Don Laka joins Sony Music Entertainment Africa

Under the agreement, a selection of Laka’s albums has been made available on major streaming platforms. The move is aimed at expanding access to his work, which spans more than five decades and includes his signature fusion style known as kwaai-jazz.

“Joining Sony Music marks a powerful new chapter for my music,” Laka said. “I’ve spent my life honouring South African heritage while pushing boundaries, and this partnership allows me to expand that mission with renewed energy. The music coming later this year blends where I have come from with where I am headed.”

Sony Music Entertainment Africa managing director, Sean Watson, described Laka as a significant figure in South African music, citing his work as a pianist, composer and producer. “We’re honoured to welcome Don Laka to Sony Music and look forward to amplifying his next chapter,” Watson said.

Born in Mamelodi, Pretoria, Laka is known for blending jazz with local genres such as kwaito, kwela and marabi. Over the course of his career, he has released multiple commercially successful albums, including Destiny, Supernova, Pyramid and Paradise, and has contributed to more than 800 recorded compositions.

He has also collaborated with prominent artists including Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Rebecca Malope and the band Sankomota. In 2013, he received a Grammy nomination for producing Jabulani by Hugh Masekela.

Beyond his work as a performer, Laka co-founded the influential label Kalawa Jazmee, which played a central role in the development of kwaito music in the 1990s.

The new partnership comes as Laka prepares to release new material in 2026. According to the artist, the forthcoming project will combine elements of his earlier work with new influences and collaborations, continuing his long-standing focus on evolving South African music for broader audiences.